A good way to learn how to identify a fish or any animal species is to learn their anatomy. When you learn the body parts of fish it will be easier to identify them.  Their body parts can be different shapes and colors and sometimes fins are found in different places.

This is a diagram of a bluegill.

• The fins of a fish are used to propel the animal through water.
• The placement of the fins on the body can help a fish swim fast or turn quickly.
• An identifying characteristic of fins is whether or not the fins are soft or have spines. You can see that the dorsal fin of the bluegill has both spines and soft rays.
• The opercle is the covering over the gills, (gill cover).
• The lateral line helps a fish sense its surroundings.

Learn about the 4-H Sports Fishing Project and Explore 4-H in Iowa!